Optical path changing device and method for the manufacture thereof
AssigneeMitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorSeiki Hiramatsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cores are embedded in a cladding, each core constituting a continuous optical path in which a first core end surface is exposed at a first end surface, and a second core end surface is exposed at a second end surface, and each of the continuous optical paths extends from the first core end surface to a mirror surface, is changed in direction at the mirror surface, and then extends to the second core end surface. The first core end surfaces and the second core end surfaces are arranged two-dimensionally at the first end surface and the second end surface, respectively.
Claims8
An optical path changing device comprising:
- a cladding formed with a first end surface, a second end surface, and a mirror surface;
- and
- at least three cores embedded in said cladding, each core constituting a continuous optical path in which a first core end surface is exposed at said first end surface and a second core end surface is exposed at said second end surface, each of said continuous optical paths extending from said first core end surface to said mirror surface, being changed in direction at said mirror surface, and extending to said second core end surface,
- wherein said first core end surfaces and said second core end surfaces are arranged two-dimensionally at said first end surface and said second end surface, respectively.
A method for manufacturing an optical path changing device, said method comprising the steps of:
- preparing a first waveguide body in which at least one angular core composed of a pair of first and second core segments formed into an angular shape such that optical axes of said pair of first and second core segments intersect at an intersecting portion is embedded in a first substrate made of a first cladding formed with a mirror surface such that said pair of first and second core segments are arranged on a common plane perpendicular to said mirror surface with said intersecting portion of said optical axes positioned at said mirror surface;
- preparing a second waveguide body in which at least two angular cores each composed of a pair of first and second core segments formed into an angular shape such that optical axes of each of said pairs of first and second core segments intersect at an intersecting portion are embedded in a second substrate made of a second cladding formed with a mirror surface such that said pairs of first and second core segments are arranged on a common plane perpendicular to said mirror surface with said intersecting portions of said optical axes positioned at said mirror surface;
- and
- integrating said first and second waveguide bodies by laminating said first and second waveguide bodies such that said mirror surfaces are superposed in a direction of lamination, and then fixing together said first and second waveguide bodies.
A method for manufacturing an optical path changing device, said method comprising the steps of:
- preparing a waveguide body having a first end surface, a second end surface, and a mirror surface in which a plurality of first core segments are embedded inside a cladding so as to extend from said first end surface to said mirror surface such that core end surfaces of said first core segments are arranged two-dimensionally at said first end surface;
- and
- forming second core segments inside said cladding by condensing and focusing a laser on said cladding of said waveguide body such that core end surfaces of said second core segments are arranged two-dimensionally at said second end surface and optical axes of each of said second core segments intersect optical axes of corresponding first core segments at said mirror surface such that each of said pairs of first and second core segments forms an angular core having a return portion at said mirror surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.